Wall facing



Dec. 13, 1966 M. H. MADER ETAL WALL FAG ING Filed April 9, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 R V 25 5 6 WMM M EA u m WW6 w r )0 M 4 W 2% M Dec. 13 1966 M. H. MADER ETAL WALL FAG I NG 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 9, 1964 IN VE N TORS A MAW/V/ M405? V M M 6% n m 7 6 A United States Patent Office masts Patented Dec. 13, 1%66 3,29%),346 WALL FACIING Martin H. Mader, Hollywood, and Erhard G. Unger, Los Angeles, Calif., assignors to Mader Cabinet Works, Hollywood, Calif, a corporation of California Filed Apr. 9, 1964, Ser. No. 358,585 3 Claims. (Cl. 52-479) This invention relates to improvements in facings for walls of a room or building, which facings are adapted to serve as fixture supports as, for example, for supporting shelves.

It is the general object of this invention to provide an improved facing for a wall, the facing not only serving for ornamental, decorative or wall-finishing purposes but also being adapted to function as a fixture support. The facing is readily and eas'ly installed upon a building wall and disassembled from the wall, is relatively simple and rugged in construction, and is easy to manufacture.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the course of the following part of this description wherein the details of construction and mode of installation of a preferred embodiment are described with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of a wall-facing structure of this invention, the same being mounted upon a wall of a building and including several display shelves;

FIG. 2 is a cross-section on an enlarged scale through the facing structure taken upon a plane indicated on FIG. I by line 2-2;

FIGS. 3, 4 and are vertical sections through the facing structure taken along lines 3-3, 4-4 and 5-5, respectively on FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a detail section of a portion of the facing structure taken upon line 66 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a vertical section through the lower portion ofa modified form of a wall-facing structure of thi invention; and,

FIG. 8 is a detailed horizontal section through still another modification of a wall-facing structure of this invention.

Referring to the drawing in greater detail, it illustrates a wall-facing structure of this invention designated generally by reference numeral lltl, and the same being mounted upon a wall of a building designated by numeral 12. For anchoring the facing structure to the building wall there are two straight strips 14 and 15 of stiff material, e.g. steel, which extend horizontally of and are secured to the building wall 12, the strips being spaced one above the other and being spaced forwardly from the building wall.

In the illustrated embodiment, the strips 14 and 15 are flanges of channels 16 and 17 respectively. Referring particularly to the upper channel 16, it comprises the straight strip or channel flange 14, another side flange l9, and a flat web 29 integral with the two side flanges M and 19. The channel flange 19 is disposed flush against the building wall, and the web 20 serves to space the forwardly disposed flange 14 from the building wall. The channels are secured to the building wall with any suitable fastener, e.g. screws 22, which extend through the channel flange 19. The forwardly disposed flange or strip 14 is provided with apertures 23 aligned with the screw-holes respectively in the flange 19 to provide access for a screwdriver to engage the heads of screws 22. The channels of the illustrated embodiment extend horizontally substantially throughout the length of the wall structure 10 whereby they are more easily and readily fastened to the building wall than would be the case were each channel structure constituted of an aligned series of spaced channel sections. The channels are oriented such that the upper channel 16 opens downwardly and the lower channel 17 opens upwardly. In the illustrated instance the channels are parallel to each other and are spaced apart by a predetermined distance to be explained hereinafter.

The exposed surface of the wall-facing structure 10 comprises a plurality of flat panels in juxtaposition, there being three panels 25, 26 and 27 of standard Width and a narrow end panel 28 in FIG. 1 of the drawing. The top edges 30 of the panels are aligned, and in the illustrated embodiment are spaced slightly below the upper or ceiling edge 31 of the room wall 12. The bottom edges 32 of the panels are also aligned with each other, and in the illustrated case are spaced slightly above the lower or floor edge 33 of the wall 12. As appears best in FIG. 1, the upper channel 16 is spaced slightly below the line of the top edges 30 of the panels, and the lower channel 17 is spaced slightly above the line of the bottom edges 32 of the panels whereby the channels are concealed by the panels.

For demountably securing the panels -28 to the channels 1d and 17, the wall-facing structure 10 comprises a plurality of studs 35, preferably formed of hard wood. The number of studs for a complete wall-facing structure is one less than the number of panels in the structure, the studs being positioned behind the meeting edges of each respective pair of adjacent panels. Each stud 35 is of a length to extend from within the lower channel 17 and into the upper channel 16. No fasteners are needed to secure the studs in the channels. The upper end portion 36 and the lower end portion 37 of each stud are formed of a thickness to slip fit into the channels between the opposite side flanges of the channels. To install a stud, it is placed between the channels in tilted position and is then rotated to extend perpendicularly between the channels with its end portions 35 and 37 disposed in the channels, respectively. More particularly, and as appears best in FIG. 3, the upper end portion 3.6 of the stud 35 defines one surface of a trans versely extending rabbet 39, and the lower end portion 37 defines a corresponding surface of a lower transversely extending rabbet 49, thus to provide clearances for the flanges 14 and 15 of the channels 16 and 17, respectively.

Each stud includes a forwardly ext-ending projecting portion 42 of a length (dimension taken perpendicularly between the channels) which is slightly less than the spacing between the proximate extremities of the channels, thus to permit clearance of the projection 42 with respect to the channels when the stud is rotated to perpendicular position in being fitted into the channels. To increase the sturdiness of the wall-facing structure, it is preferred, as in the illustrated embodiment, to form the stud of greater width than its projecting portion 42. The front flat face of each projection 42 is designated by reference numeral 43. Secured upon such front surface 43 is a slotted standard 45 having a medially extending series of spaced slots 45. The slotted standard 4-5 extends laterally beyond each side edge of the projecting portion 42 as tongues 48 and as for engagement in grooves of the panels to be described hereinafter.

The wall-facing structure iii of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-6 is provided with means for mounting fixtures upon the exposed surface of the panels whereby that embodiment is adapted to serve as a fixture support. More particularly, there are two angle irons 51 and 52. secured flush upon the slotted standard 45 as with screws 53 which extend through the slotted standard and into the stud 35. The forwardly extending legs of the angle irons 51 and 52 are spaced apart at 54 to accommodate insertion of an end portion of a bracket 56. The brackets 56 are of common configuration, each comprising an arm portion 57 and an anchoring end portion ,Each slot 46 is of a width suflicient to accommodate insertion of an anchoring end portion 58 through it, and each slot is of a vertical dimension slightly less than that of the anchoring end portion 58. Thus, to install a bracket 56, the upper end 61 of an anchoring end portion 58 of a bracket is inserted through a slot 46 with the bracket being inclined upwardly. As the outer end 62 of the bracket is rotated from an upwardly inclined position to its installed position shown in FIG. 3 wherein the upper edge surface 63 of the bracket arm extends horizontally, the upper end portion 61 becomes engaged against the rear surface of the slotted standard 45 above its accommodating slot 46 while the lower end portion of the anchoring end of the bracket becomes seated fiush against the rear surface of the slotted standard below the lower end of its accommodating slot. The bracket is preferably provided with a stop 65 for engagement with the front surface of the slotted standard. The slots 46 in each of the series of studs are horizontally aligned whereby a bracket 56 in one stud will be on the same horizontal plane as that in the next adjacent stud for supporting a horizontal shelf 67. Preferably, there are front and back shelf rests 69 and 7-1), respectively, for supporting the shelf.

To provide for reception of the anchoring end portions 58 of those brackets 56 which are positioned at levels between the channels 16 and 17, a vertically extending slot 72 is provided in each of the studs 35, such slot 72 extending through the projection portion 42.

Referring again to the panels 25-28, and in particular to the pair 27-28 of adjacent panels as they appear in FIG. 2, the panel 27 is milled at that side edge thereof proximate the panel 28 to provide an inside groove 74 extending throughout the height of the panel for mating with the tongue 48 of the stud 35. It is to be noted also that the panel side edges are recessed at 75 to clear the projecting portion 42. Thus, it is seen that the panels are connected to the studs and supported against movement outwardly from the studs through the interlocking arrangement of the tongues 43 and 49 of the studs in the complementary grooves 74 of the panels. Being so secured against outward movement away from the wall, and in those cases Where the panels do not rest on the floor, it is necessary only to provide a simple stop means on each panel to determine its vertical position. In the illustrated embodiment such stop means is provided by a block 77 (FIG. 4) fastened as with nails 78 to the back side of each panel at an elevation such that the block 77 will rest upon the top surface of the upper channel 16.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 1-6, the panels are spaced slightly above the floor. To complete the wall-facing structure as extending uninterruptedly from the floor, a baseboard 80 is secured along the lower margin of the panels for engagement with the floor.

For trimming the side edges of the wall-facing structure 10, the illustrated embodiment includes an end stud 82 (left-hand end in FIG. 2) of a thickness to slip fit within the channels as in the case of the studs 35, and a filler strip 83 is secured as by gluing between the stud 82 and the back surface of the terminal panel 28. Also, a corner trim strip 84 is provided for finishing the side edge, and a scribe 85, secured with nails 86, is adjustably extendable to close the gap between the trim strip 84- and the forward surface of the room wall 12.

Referring now to FIG. 7, the embodiment shown therein is one in which the panels 83 (corresponding in structure and function to the panels 25-28 of the FIGS. 1-6 embodiment) are spaced substantially above the floor of the room to provide a design of conventional recessed base, and a baseboard 89 is secured directly to the building wall 12 rather than to the bottom marginal portion of the panels.

In FIG. 8, an arrangement for connecting the panels, herein numbered 90 and 91, to a stud 92 which corresponds in panel-supporting function to the studs 35 of the FIGS. l-6 embodiment, is illustrated for a wall-facing structure of this invention which is not specially adapted for mounting article-displaying brackets of the type included in the FIGS. 1-6 embodiment. In the case of the wall-facing structure of FIG. 8, the panels 90 and 91 are in side edge-to-side edge abutment leaving but a line of abutment appearing at the exterior of the wall-facing structure.

While the instant invention has been shown and described herein in what are conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention, which is therefore not to be limited to the details disclosed herein, but is to be accorded the full scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A wall-facing structure mounted upon a building wall and comprising strip means for anchoring said structure to said wall, means fastening said strip means to said wall in two spaced lines along the wall and in spaced relationship forwardly from said wall, a plurality of studs each extending from behind the strip means in one of said lines to behind the strip means in the other of said lines, each stud having laterally extending tongues proximate the forwardly disposed surface thereof, a plurality of fiat panels arranged in juxtaposition and disposed in a plane forwardly of and against said strip means, the proximate side edges of each pair of adjacent panels having internal grooves receiving said tongues respectively whereby the panels are adapted to be secured by the studs against movement forwardly from the studs, and stop means on the panels engaging with said strip means for resting the panels upon the strip means.

2. A wall-facing structure mounted upon a building wall and comprising upper channel means disposed in a horizontal line along said wall, lower channel means disposed in a horizontal line along said wall spaced below said upper channel means, means fastening said channel means to said wall with the upper and lower channel means opening toward each other, a plurality of studs, each stud having end portions slip fitted into said upper and lower channel means respectively, each stud having a forwardly extending projecting portion with laterally and oppositely directed tongues extending along the forwardmost surface of the projecting portion, a plurality of fiat panels arranged in juxtaposition and in a common plane forwardly of and disposed against said upper and lower channel means, the proximate side edges of each pair of adjacent panels having internal grooves receiving said tongues respectively whereby the panels are adapted to be secured by the studs against movement forwardly from the studs, and stop means on the panels engaging one of said channel means for resting the panels upon the channel means.

3. A wall-facing structure mounted upon a building wall and to serve as a fixture support, said structure comprising an upper channel disposed in a horizontal line along said wall, a lower channel disposed horizontally along said wall and spaced below said upper channel, means fastening said channels to said Wall with the upper and lower channels opening toward each other, a plurality of studs, each stud having end portions slip fitted into said upper and lower channels respectively, each stud having a forwardly extending projecting portion and a slotted standard secured flush upon the forwardmost surface of the projecting portion, said standard being of a width sufiicient to extend along each side edge there-of beyond said projecting portion forming tongues, a plurality of flat panels arranged in juxtaposition and in a common plane forwardly of and disposed against said channels, the proximate side edges of each pair of adjacent panels 5 6 having internal grooves accommodating said tongues References Cited by the Examiner respectively whereby the panels are adapted to be secured UNITED STATES PATENTS by the studs against movement forwardly from the studs, said proximate side edges being spaced apart to permit 213621252 11/1944 E'lhnwood access for a fixture bracket to extend into a slot of said 5 2,998,107 8/1961 Zlmmerla standard, said projecting portion being recessed directly 3,193,885 7/1965 Gartner 52436 behind the slots of said standard, and stop means on the panels engaging With one of said panels for hanging said FRANK ABBOTT Primary Examiner panels upon said one channel. I. E. MURTAGH, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A WALL-FACING STRUCTURE MOUNTED UPON A BUILDING WALL AND COMPRISING STRIP MEANS FOR ANCHORING SAID STRUCTURE TO SAID WALL, MEANS FASTENING SAID STRIP MEANS TO SAID WALL IN TWO PACED LINES ALONG THE WALL AND IN SPACED RELATIONSHIP FORWARDLY FROM SAID WALL, A PLURALITY OF STUDS EACH EXTENDING FROM BEHIND THE STRIP MEANS IN ONE OF SAID LINES TO BEHIND THE STRIP MEANS IN THE OTHER OF SAID LINES, EACH STUD HAVING LATERALLY EXTENDING TONGUES PROXIMATE THE FORWARDLY DISPOSED SURFACE THEREOF, A PLURALITY OF FLAT PANELS ARRANGED IN JUXTAPOSITION AND DISPOSED IN A PLANE FORWARDLY OF AND AGAINST SAID STRIP MEANS, THE PROXIMATE SIDE EDGES OF EACH PAIR OF ADJACENT PANELS HAVING INTERNAL GROOVES RECEIVING SAID TONGUES RESPECTIVELY WHEREBY THE PANELS ARE ADAPTED TO BE SECURED BY THE STUDS AGAINST MOVEMENT FORWARDLY FROM THE STUDS, AND STOP MEANS ON THE PANELS ENGAGING WITH SAID STRIP MEANS FOR RESTING THE PANELS UPON THE STRIP MEANS. 